Justification:
This species is listed as Least Concern since it has a wide distribution range, is generally common where in suitable habitat, present in several protected areas, and there is no reason to believe the species is declining at a rate fast enough to warrant listing in a higher category of threat.

Widely distributed from Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone eastward to southern Sudan and Ethiopia and south to southern Africa, where absent from most of Namibia, Botswana and large parts of C South Africa, wherever adequate water and cover are unavailable (Baker and Ray in press). Present on Pemba Island, but absent from Zanzibar (Pakenham 1984). Recorded to altitudes of 3,950 m in Bale Mountains N.P., Ethiopia (Yalden et al. 1996). Wozencraft (2005) lists this species as occurring in Algeria, presumably an error as there are no confirmed records from this country.

Generally common in suitable habitat. It was the second most photographed species in a camera-trapping study in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania (De Luca and Mpunga 2005). In KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, the density was recorded at 1.8 / km² (Maddock 1988).

Mainly restricted to riparian habitats (rivers, streams, swamps, marshes and dams), wherever there is suitable vegetation cover and water in close proximity. They may also be found along estuaries and in coastal areas. Sometimes found away from watercourses, though only for limited periods (Baker and Ray in press). Diet comprises mostly aquatic prey with crustaceans usually dominating, which is unusual among herpestids (Baker and Ray in press).

There are currently no major threats known to the species. However, since it is dependent on riverine vegetation for shelter, the loss of this habitat may result in some localized declines where habitat loss is taking place (Baker and Ray in press). The drainage of swamplands for conversion to arable land has been identified as a threat to Marsh Mongooses in eastern Africa (Andama 2000). The Marsh Mongoose is commonly found in bushmeat markets, and was the most common carnivore appearing in bushmeat markets in SE Nigeria (Angelici et al. 1999) and was also commonly recorded in bushmeat surveys in the Classified Forest of Diecke, Guinea (Colyn et al. 2004).

Angelici, F. M., Luiselli, L., Politano, E. and Akani, G. C. 1999. Bushmen and mammal fauna: A survey of the mammals traded in bush-meat markets of local people in the rainforests of southeastern Nigeria. Anthropozoologica 30: 51-58.